Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 23 (1990) Divine Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Index Of Discourses 1. Sports and Spirituality ............................................................................................ 2 2. Devotion in action .................................................................................................... 9 3. Human values in business management .............................................................. 15 4. What the Avatars mean ......................................................................................... 17 5. More potent than portents .................................................................................... 23 6. Rama, the Indweller .............................................................................................. 29 7. Give up selfishness: Cultivate unity ..................................................................... 38 8. Sathyam vada; Dharmam chara .......................................................................... 44 9. The Glory of Bharat .............................................................................................. 49 10. Sanctify the body .................................................................................................... 52 11. The abode of the Spirit .......................................................................................... 59 12. Be Master of the senses .......................................................................................... 64 13. Royal road to realisation ....................................................................................... 71 14. The human chariot ................................................................................................. 76 15. Purity of the mind : Role of the senses ................................................................. 80 16. The Buddhi and the Atma ..................................................................................... 86 17. Lessons of a debate ................................................................................................ 93 18. Trigunas and Panchabhutas ................................................................................. 98 19. Know thyself ......................................................................................................... 105 20. Kshetra and Kshetrajna ...................................................................................... 112 21. The Spirit of freedom and freedom of the Spirit .............................................. 116 22. Love God and the Motherland ........................................................................... 125 23. Morals make the man and the Nation ................................................................ 131 24. Message of the Vedas ........................................................................................... 138 25. The Guru within ................................................................................................... 144 26. Role of the Avatars .............................................................................................. 153 27. Devotion and self-sacrifice .................................................................................. 163 28. Revelations about the Sai Avatar ....................................................................... 171 29. The day that wrought the great change ............................................................. 186 30. Service as duty ...................................................................................................... 194 31. The Devotee dear to the Lord ............................................................................. 199 32. Seva that sanctifies ............................................................................................... 204 33. Towards a value based education ....................................................................... 208 34. Restore the glory of Bharat ................................................................................. 215 35. Share in Bhagavan’s love ................................................................................... 224 36. Love: Sacrifice: Unity .......................................................................................... 229 Index https://sathyasai.us/devotion/discourses 1 Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 23 (1990), Discourse 1 - Sports and Spirituality 1. Sports and Spirituality Date: 14 January 1990 / Location: Prasanthi Nilayam / Occasion: Sankranthi, Sports Meet What greater misfortune can there be Than the failure of Bharatiyas To understand the true greatness Of their ancient and sacred culture? To cavil at others' faults And to be blind to one's own; To jeer at others' looks, Not noticing one's own ugliness; To make fun of others And not see one's own follies; To have such qualities from birth Can there be a greater sin than this? STUDENTS, boys and girls, and teachers, embodiments of love! The observance of morality in daily life, the divinisation of all actions and thoughts related to life, and adherence to ideals together constitute culture. Students today do not make the requisite efforts to understand the sacredness and value of this culture. Samskrit, Samskriti, Samskara are all terms which have been derived from the roots, Sam and Krit. Bharatiya Samskriti (culture) is a composite of purity, divinity, sublimity and beauty. This combination is reflected in sports and games. Sports help players experience joy Although there may be differences among nations in their food and recreational habits, the spirit of harmony and unity displayed in sports is a gratifying example to all. It is a distinctive quality of sports that differences are forgotten and persons engage themselves in games in a divine spirit of friendliness and comraderie. Sports help the players not only to improve their health but also to experience joy. Students, however, should not be content with realising these benefits. Man has another body besides the physical. It is the subtle body, otherwise known as the mind. It is equally essential to promote purity of the mind and develop large heartedness. True humanness blossoms only when the body, the mind and the spirit are developed harmoniously. The enthusiasm and effort which you display in sports should also be manifested in the spheres of morality and Index https://sathyasai.us/devotion/discourses 2 Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 23 (1990), Discourse 1 - Sports and Spirituality spirituality. You must endeavour to experience the divinity that permeates Bharat's sacred culture. Bharatiya culture is not a product of narrow-minded ideas and ideals. It is filled with profound, sublime and ennobling ideas. "Loka samasthas-sukhino bhavanthu!" (May all the people be happy) is the benedictory motto of Bharat. There is a prayer in the Purusha Sukta which students recite regularly, but they do not understand its full meaning. "Sahabavavathu; sahanau bhunakthu; sahaviryam karavavahai." What is the inner meaning of this mantra? "Let us grow together in harmony; let us move about in friendliness; let us spread together the light that we have gained from our studies. Let us live in harmony without discord. Let us promote in harmony the use of our talents and skills." This is the profound inner meaning of this Vedic hymn. No other language can stand comparison with Sanskrit in its sweetness or range of expression. The sages prayed for the happiness and well-being of every one on earth. "Sarve bhadrani pasyanthu" (May all see only what is auspicious). Such were the benedictions pronounced in the Sanskrit language. Glory of Sanskrit, mother of languages Many European languages have a large number of words which are derived from Sanskrit roots. Words like mother, father, brother, etc., in English are derived from Latin words which are themselves derived from Sanskrit words like, Pitru, Mathru and Brathru. Thus English is like a grand-daughter, while Latin is a daughter and Sanskrit is the mother of languages. Sanskrit enjoys this privilege of being the ancient mother of many languages. A great French scholar, Louis Renou, spent many years in India studying the Sanskrit language. On the eve of returning to his native country, he was given a big farewell party by many teachers and students. At that gathering Louis Renou was full of tears, feeling sad at having to leave India. Controlling himself, he said he was feeling extremely sad to leave India. "Indians are treating the immortal Sanskrit language as a 'dead' language. Educational institutions and students are not making adequate efforts to study Sanskrit. Having this immortal language with them, they are not making any effort to enjoy its glories. There can be no greater misfortune than this," he lamented. Index https://sathyasai.us/devotion/discourses 3 Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 23 (1990), Discourse 1 - Sports and Spirituality Max Mueller was another savant who explored the greatness of Sanskrit. He traced the Sanskrit origin of many English words. After completing a study of the Rig Veda, he inscribed an introduction to his work in Sanskrit in which he described himself as a native of Germany who had received his education at Oxford University. He coined Sanskrit equivalents for Germany and Oxford ("Sarmany" and "Gothirthapura") and Sanskritised his own name as Mokshamula Bhat. When great foreign scholars and savants show so much regard and esteem for Sanskrit, it is regrettable that Indians do not have the same regard for this great